Not long ago, learning to fly often meant enrolling in a college aviation program and leaving home to pursue your dream. Today, thanks to Neu Aviation, aspiring pilots in northwest Louisiana can stay local while their future takes flight.

The family- and veteran-owned flight school and aircraft maintenance operation is serving everyone from teenagers just getting started to retirees finally chasing a lifelong dream. 

Owners Collin Neu and Molly Matthews-Neu have built a full pipeline of aviation training, offering everything from recreational flying to advanced aircraft instruction.

Collin brings a deep well of experience. As a retired B-52 navigator and former instructor, he received the equivalent of a master ’s-level education in aviation through his military service. Today, he channels that expertise into training the next generation of pilots while helping fill a growing need in the regional market.

Molly’s path to aviation came through a different, but equally valuable, lens. A retired member of the Air Force Medical Corps with a background in healthcare administration, she now leads the business side of Neu Aviation. Entrepreneurship, she says, feels familiar.

“I grew up with parents who owned their own CPA firm, so business was always part of our dinner table conversations. Now that I’m doing it myself, those memories are all coming back,” she said with a laugh. “I trust Collin to handle operations at the school, and he trusts me to handle the business side.”

The idea for Neu Aviation began taking shape as Collin worked toward his commercial pilot license after retiring from the Air Force. What started as a personal goal quickly evolved into something bigger.

In just three years, the business has grown from renting a single aircraft to operating a fleet of nine planes, with more than 100 students across three locations.

That growth came as the couple built their reputation on a commitment to safety, professionalism, and doing things the right way.

“Our military background means we take this very seriously. We want to produce the safest, most competent pilots possible,” Molly said. “At the same time, we focus heavily on customer service. From the first interaction, we want our students to feel trust and confidence.”

Looking ahead, Neu Aviation is working toward certifications that would allow students to use the GI Bill and access student loan financing. They also hope to partner with a local university to offer a two- to four-year aviation degree program.

“That would open up a whole new group of students,” Molly said. “There are so many people who want to learn to fly but need a way to pay for it. About a third of our students are active-duty or prior military, so we stay very connected to the (Barksdale Air Force Base) community.”

That connection has done more than grow their business — it has helped them build a life in the region.

A decade ago, Molly says she could have never imagined calling Bossier home. Now, she can’t picture being anywhere else.

“I love to water ski, and living in north Bossier near the water is everything I could have wanted,” she said. “I love the schools, the community, our neighborhood, and our neighbors. It’s been incredible.”

She credits the area’s strong support for the military community as a key reason for that sense of belonging.

“I had job offers here because people respected my military experience, and you don’t see that everywhere,” she said. “Here, people say they value the military, and they back it up by hiring and supporting veterans.”

That support for Collin and Molly, both in and out of uniform, made that leap of entrepreneurship less scary.

“We’re incredibly grateful,” Molly said, “to our students and their families who have trusted us along the way.”